Automatic well-flowing device



Feb. 18, 1930. A. BOYNTON AUTOMATIC WELL FLOWING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mil! QQ Z H h INVENTOR 22 U M Z 2 Alexander ,Baynlon, M BY I 1 6 7 7 ATTORNEY .Feb. 18, 1930; A. BOYNTON AUTOMATIC WELL FLOWING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1927 2 Shets-Sheef. 2

INVENTOR Alexander 501275029,

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 18, 123C ass was?

ALEXANDER BOY NTON, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AUTOMATIC WELL-FLOWING DEVICE Application filed December 10, 1927. Serial No. 239,137.

This invention relates to automatic stage lifts or well flowing devices, and more particularly to difierential pressure valve actuating devices such as disclosed in certain allied patent applications as follows: Case #14, filed Nov. 15, 1927, Serial #233,480; Case #15, filed Nov. 21, 1927, Serial #234,775; and Case #16, filed Dec. 1, 1927, Serial #237,051, from each of which it distinguishes by the provision of outstanding vanes or wings on a flow-actuated, pivoted sleeve.

In these applications, disclosure is made of a construction which is particularly designed for the installation of what is known as the tubing method of lifting the liquid, that is to say, the liquid column is elevated in the well tubing by means ofdifierential or fluid pressure supplied to the well casing from an external source.

The present invention provides a valvev actuating device which is operable by a liquid column movable in the well casing to control the differential or pressure fluid supplied to the column from an external source and conducted into the well through the welltubing.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings where- 1n Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus as installed in a well casing, the latter being shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the structure disclosed in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating a possible modification of the vanes on the sleeve.

Reference is made to the drawing. The familiar well casing is indicated at 1, while confronting sections of the well tubing arev indicated at 2 and 3. The latter are screwed or otherwise aflixed at 4 and 5 to the extremities of the body 6 of the valve apparatus. In order that the valve body'may remain in a substantially central position within the well casing, the former is provided with a plurality of radially disposed lugs or arms 7 As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, these do not contact the inner walls of the well casing, the suspension of the valve body being desirabl) loose so that it is freely movable into the well casing. A bore 8 in a lateral enlargement of the valve body below the lugs 7 provides a passageway which, in the present embodiment of the invention, is permanently closed at the bottom by a plug 9.

An inlet port 18 affords communication between the passageway and bore 19 of the valve body. In the present embodiment of the invention, the bore 19 constitutes part of a conduit containing fluid (gas or air) under pressure to be utilized for theklifting of a column of liquid (oil, for example) in the casing 1. The upper edge of the bore 20 in a bushing 21 seated in the passageway 8 provides the lower seat for the plunger or valve element 10.

A portion of the'passageway 8 is formed to provide an upper seat '11, a confronting portion of the valve element being bevelled to engage with the seat when the valve element assumes a sealing ofi' position. The projecting end of the reduced end 12 of the valve element 10 is engageable with an edge of a sleeve 13. The sleeve has cars 14 (Fig. 1) receiving a pivot pin 15 when seated upon a hinge lug on one of the radiating arms 7. A recess 16 in the aforesaid edge of the sleeve identifies the point of contact with the plunger end.

Outstanding vanes or wings 17 on the sleeve 13 present an abutment upon which the upwardly lifted liquid column exerts lifting pressure to rock the sleeve upon the pivot 15. It is seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3 that the sleeve 13 is of a peculiar shape, necessarily so because of the particular disposition and action thereof. It is oval in cross sectional contour in order that it may be readily adapted to the full line and dotted line positions illustrated in Fig. 1, which positions picture the extremities of the movement to which it is susceptible. The major axis of the sleeve is disposed at an angle to the parallel planes at which the lower and upper edges of the cylinder terminate. The outstanding vanes o'r wing -17 extend around the sleeve from points beginning at the hinge ears 14 and terminate at the uppermost and farthest extremity ofthe sleeve as clearly shown in Figure 1.

A variation in the arrangement ofthe vanes on the sleeve 13 is-illustrated in Fig. 7

"The vanes 22. are now arranged in pairs, al-

though single vanes on each slde ofthe sleeve, similarly inclined with respect to 'the sleeve, maybe employed if deemed expedient. It is to be observed that the vanes 22 stand at a v considerably less inclination than the vanes 17 in the foregoing forms of the invention.

The advantage of the disposition of the vanesv in Fig. 7 is that they'will be perfectly alined with the fluid column when the sleeve 13 is raised to the dtitted line position. In other words, the vanes will be perfectly perpendicular when the well is flowing at the desired velocity. Each construction may have its advantages, and both are illustrated in order to disclose possible modifications.

The operation is readily understood. The

reader may assume the upward flow of a col-. umn of liquid in the casing 1 at a predeter mined desired velocity. The superior internal fluid pressure, exerting pressure upon the valve element, maintains a sealing ofl engagement at the seat 11. The pressure of the upwardly flowing liquid exerted upon the vane or wing 17 sustains the sleeve. 13 in the dotted line indicating elevated position in Figurefl.

Moreover, the now extended valve end 12, being in engagement. with the edge of the sleeve,

assists in sustaining the sleeve in said position. i I

. Whenever the velocity of the liquid column diminishes below the predetermined desired velocity, the sleeve 13 by its own weight, falls and depresses the valve element 10 so that there may be an influx of the hitherto sealed oil pressure fluid resulting in the acceleration of movement of the liquid column to the former desired velocity. When the liquid column has attained the desired velocity, the

force thereof imposed upon the vanes or wings 17 again lifts the sleeve 13 until the sealing off at the seat 11 is re-established by the raising of the valve element 10. I claim: I

1. In combination, a pair of concentric tubular members through one of which liquid-'- is adapted to be elevated by pressure fluid conducted throughthe other, a valve ele- =ment controlling the passage of pressure fluid to the-liquid column, and a sleeve'on one tubular member and pivotally supported within the other, the free end being movable in the path of the .valve element and held in elevated position by the liquid column when desired velocity obtains, the sleeve being operable to fall and actuate the valve element to open position to permit pressure. fluid to pass to the first one of said tubular members when the velocity of the liquid column diminishes below the velocity desired.- a

2. In combination, a pair of concentric tubular members through one of which liquid is adapted to ,be elevated by pressure fluid,

diminishes below the point desired, and a wing on the sleeve upon which pressure incidental to the velocity of the liquid column is exerted to lift the sleeve away from the. valve element to permit it to close when the liquid columnassumes the desired velocity.

' 3. In combination, a pair of concentric tubular members through one of which liquid is adapted to be elevated by fluid pressure conducted through the other, a valve element controlling the passage of pressure fluid to the liquid column, and a sleeve received on one tubular member and pivotally supported within the other the free end being movable in the path of the valve element and held in elevated position by the liquid column when desired velocity obtains, the

sleeve being operable tofall and actuate the valve element to open position to permit fluid pressure to pass to the first one of said tubular members when the velocity of the liquid column diminishes below that desired, and lateral wingson the sleeve whereby the velocity of the liquid column lifts the sleeve away from the valve element to permit it to close when the liquid column again assumes the desired velocity, the-wings extending at an oblique angle with respect to the horizontal axis of the sleeve.

is adapted to be elevated by pressure fluid, a pressure fluid supply pipe arranged in the casing, a 'valve element carried thereby for controlling the admission of pressure fluid to the casing and a pivoted valve depressing member ha 'ng an outstanding abutment rendering said member responsive to the lifting energy of the liquid column for permitting opening and closing movements of the valve element according to the velocityof the moving column.

, 5. In combination, a casing in which liquid is adapted to be elevated by pressure fluid, a pressure fluid supplypipe arranged with- 4. In combination, a casing in which liquid in the casing, a valve element associated with the supply pipe for controlling the passage of pressure fluid to the casing, and a valve depressing member having an outstanding abutment rendering said member movable to positions to permit opening and closing of the valve element according to the velocity of the moving liquid column.

6. A valve comprising a body having a conduit and a passageway connecting the conduit with the outside of the body, avalve element operable by force of pressure fluid in the passageway, a sleeve circumposed upon a portion of the body in confronting relationship to the valve element, a pivot for the sleeve, and an abutment on the sleeve receiving the impact of a moving fluid column to effect various permissive positions of the, valve element,

7. A valve element comprising a body through which therewill be a flow of fluid, a valve element operable by and effecting a throttling control upon fluid flowing through said body, Which fluid will move said element from one sealing-ofl' position to a second sealing-ofi position, a'member so constructed that it will be subject to the impact of a fluid column set in motion by injection thereinto of fluid escaping past the valve element, and a hinge by which the member is so mounted on the outside of the body in supervisory re lationship to the valve element and following said element in its movements between the two sealing-ofl' positions.

8. A valve comprising a hollow body from one side of which there will be a flow and ejection of pressure fluid to the other side of said body to induce the movement of a liquid column on that side, a valve element situated in the pressure fluid stream performing a throttling action upon said stream while wavering between two sealing-off positions under the conflicting effects of gravity and the pressure of said fluid, and a sleeve hinged in the liquid column, having a vane receiving the impact of the column and rendering said member movable accordingly as the velocity of the column varies, thus to control the position of the valve element and the amount of fluid ejected.

9. A valve comprising a body having a conduit and a passageway connecting the conduit with the outside of the body, a valve element operable in the passageway by the conflicting efiects of gravity and of a pressure fluid seeking to escape from the passageway, and a sleeve fitting around a part of the body and hinged upon the body to follow the valve element, being oval in cross sectional contour in order to be adaptable to said-part of the body when it is swung upon the bin e by a liquid column induced to movement by the pressure fluid.

10. A valve comprising a hollow body from which apressure fluid stream is to be discharged into a liquid column in which the body is situated, a valve element controlling the discharge of the stream, a sleeve hinged upon the body, following the movements of the valve element and being of oval cross sectional contour to fit around a .part of the body and be adaptable to said part as it swings upon said hinge, and a vane on the sleeve receiving the impact of the liquid column.

11. A valve comprising a hollow body from which a pressure fluid stream is to be discharged into a casing adapted to contain the valve, lugs on the body to centralize the position of the body within the casing, a valve element to control the flow of pressure fluid, a sleeve hinged upon one of the lugs and fitting around a part of the body in opposition to the valve element, and a vane on the sleeve receiving the impact of a liquid column induced to movement in the casing by pressure fluid escaping past the valve element.

Signed at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, this 8th day of November, A. D. 1927.

ALEXANDER BOYNTON. 

